Justice News

Citrus Heights Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Exploitation

Text to Wrong Number Uncovered Child Exploitation

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jason S. Wymer, 44, of Citrus Heights, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to 30 years in prison, to be followed by 25 years of supervised release for sexual exploitation of children, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

On June 24, 2016, co-defendant Stormy M. Avers, 36, of Placerville, was sentenced on to 20 years in prison for sexual exploitation of children.

According to court documents, the case began when a parent accidentally texted a photo of her eight-year-old to a wrong number who turned out to be Wymer. Thinking he received the picture from a child, Wymer responded and began a dialog. The parent brought the cellphone to the FBI, and an undercover employee, pretending to be an eight-year-old child, continued the dialog with Wymer, whom investigators were subsequently able to locate.

Upon his arrest, law enforcement found photos of Wymer and Avers molesting a child, who was approximately three years old, in order to create child pornography. Avers had custody and control of the child at the time. On April 8, 2016, in his plea agreement, Wymer admitted to this conduct, and also to a separate instance of sexual exploitation of a four-year-old child in August of 2011. On March 25, 2016, Avers pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of children.

“This case highlights the power of concerned citizens,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Manuel Alvarez of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Sacramento field office. “By immediately contacting the FBI, a parent provided valuable information that ultimately led to the identification of three individuals who abused toddlers to produce child pornography. We encourage the public to preserve any communication with a suspected predator and immediately reach out to law enforcement for help. Doing so protects your child and may stop sexual abuse of other children.”

A third defendant, Jolene Davis, 40, of Stockton, is charged with having participated with Wymer in the sexual exploitation of a child of whom she had control or custody. Davis is scheduled to appear for a status conference before Judge Burrell on August 12, 2016. The charges against Davis are only allegations; she is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sacramento Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force. ICAC is a federally and state-funded task force managed by the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department with agents from federal, state, and local agencies. The Sacramento ICAC investigates online child exploitation crimes, including child pornography, enticement, and sex trafficking. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew G. Morris prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc. Click on the “resources” tab for information about internet safety education.